Ball-and-socket joint.



P. A. DILLINGHAM. BALL AND SOCKET JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JANA, 1909.

973,635, Patented 0011.25, 1910.

2 SHEETSBEEET 1.

UNITED sTAtrnsrgrENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. DILLINGI-IAM, OF TROY, OHIO,

SHADE COMPANY, OF TROY,"OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ASSIGNOR TO THE TROY CARRIAGE SUN BALL-AND-SOOKET JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent- Applicaticn filed January 4, 1909. Serial No. 470,690.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. DIL- LINGHAM, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Miami and .State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-and-Socket Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ball and socket joints.

The object of the invention is to provide a joint which will be simple in construction, easily and quickly manipulated andeffective in operation.

The invention consists in the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my device. Fig. 2 is ,a detail of one half of .the stationary part of the device, looking at. the inner side thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail of the other stationary half of the device, also looking at the inner side. Fig. 4 is a detail of one half of-the intermediate socket, looking into the interior thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail of the other half of the intermediate socket, showing the exterior thereof. Fig. (3 is a detail of both parts of the intermediate socket placed together. Fig. 7 is a detail of. the movable part of the bracket. Fig. 8 is a section on the line .1 :1; of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the device with one-lialf of the stationary part. and also onehalf of the intermediate socket removed. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the device showing a modification, some of the parts being removed. 7

Like parts are represented by similar characters of reference in the several views. In Fig. 1, I have illustrated my improved joint applied to a bracket for supporting a reflecting glass for use on automobiles, although it is evident that it may be used in connection with a wide range of devices, one of which I have illustrated in Fig. 10 and will describe more fully hereinafter. In the said drawing, a and 6 represent two halves of the stationary partof the bracket The part, a, is provided with means for attachment to any suitable part, such as, in the present case, the storm front or windshield of an automoblle 1n convement reach lost motion 7 a to more firmly secure them when the parts are assembled together, an open-ended socket, which,

I will call the mainsocket. Each recess is also provided with a groove, a, and 6, preferably V- shaped in cross-section, extending longitudinally of the parts, will have a continuous interior groove except at the point where the cut-away por tions occur.

Located in the socket of the stationary parts is what I term an intermediate socket, formed 111 two parts, c and 0 each of which has an external'V-shaped tongue or rib, 0 0 adapted to fit the grooves, a and b". Each part of the intermediate socket is also provided with internal grooves c 0 preferably V-shaped in cross-section. The grooves, 0 extend in a direction at right-angles to the external ribs, 0 or the grooves, when the parts are assembled, may be said to form a circle through Whose center the longitudinal axis of the device extends. Each of the parts, 0 and 0 is provided with a cut-away portion c v so as to provide an opening leading into the interior of the socket formed therein.

Located in the intermediate socket is the ball, (l of the movablepart, cl, of the bracket; this ball being provided with a V- shaped tongue or rib d which fits in the groove of the intermediate socket. The opening into the intermediate socket will be of such size that the neck, d of the part, d, will fit snugly therein so as to prevent any between the part, d, and the intermediate socket, and cause them to move together in one direction or plane of movement. The planes of the respective ribs, d and 0 are at right-angles or perpendicular to each other.

The movable part of the bracket carries the object to be supported, such as, in the so that said main socket,

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

I sented by c.

present instance,

. any other direction. For instance, thepart,

1/, may be swun in either direction as indicated by the inc 3 y, of Fig. l, but will be held from any movement either u or down, due to the-grooves, a 12 an ribs, 0 .ofthe outer and intermediate in the nature of the usual sockets, the intermediate socket and the ball, d movingtogetherby reason of the engagement ofs'the rib and groove, on therespective-j vparts. and the, movement be' only limited by the Contact of the 11% of the part, d, with the sides of the openin formed by the cut-away portions a b 0 the main socket. The part, 03, and the object carried thereby ma also be Swu about its, 1011 itudinal axis in eitherdirection, as indicated by the line a e of Fig. 8, the movement being permitted by reason of the rib and groove connection between the ball and intermediate socket. In Fig. 11 is showna modification of the device to adapt it for use in a canopy top support for vehicles. 6 represents the sta; tionary part of-the support, which may be 7 standard attached to the hackof the seat of the vehicle. 6 is a ballon the upper end of the stationary support, having a rib or tongue, e The main socket is ocated in the movable part, c, which carries the cano y top and its supports in the usual way. lihis movable part is formed in two pieces, one of which, '6, is hinged to the main parts, and the parts are clamped together by the thumb-screw, e

' The main socket is located in this movable -.into an interior groove of the part and contains the intermediate socket, c, which has an exterior rib, e extending main socket. Theball is fitted into the intermediate socket which has a groove to receive the rib on the ball. The opening into the main socket is preferably cut away upon one side (not.

shown) so that it will permit the movable part to swing in one directionbut will form a stop for the same in its vertical position so that the parts may be readily alined. Then it is desired to tilt the canopy top, the" movable part, together with the intermediate socket, will be turned about the ball v,i' n'til the groove of the main socket and rib of the intermediate socket come to the pi'opeisposition and then the movable part will be swung'a-bout the intermediate socket to the proper angle.

By the construction described, a very quick and accurate adjustment may be made,

described permitting the twoadjustments V the su ported objec to. be moved to any desire position.

claim: I

1. In a device of the character described, two members, one of said members having a ball and the othera socket to receive the ball,and an intermediate member between "said ball and socket having an engagement -therewith .which will permit one of said .members to make a complete revolution in one plane of direction and also permit said movable member to have another movement in another plane of direction, as specified. l 2. In a device of the character described, two members, said members having a ball and socket joint and. an intermediate socket arranged therein, the respective parts of the joint and said intermediate socket having interengaging parts which )will permit one of said members tohave a complete revolution in one plane of direction and also to "Iliiviiig' thus described my invention, I

substantially I have a movement in another plane of direcin another single plane of direction, substam tially as specified. H

4. In a device of the character described, 'two members, one of said members having a ball and the other member having a main socket, an intermediate member located in said main socket and having a socket to receivc said ball, said intermediate member having a groove in its socket toreceive a tongue on said ball, and said main socket member having an interior groovl; in its socket to receive a tongue on said intermediate member, substantially as specified.

5. In a device of the character described,

two members, one 'of' said members being formed in sections and having means for clamping thesections together, said sectional member having a main socket and the other member having a ball, an intermediate memher also formed in sections located in said main socket and having a socket to receive the ball, said main socket member. and intermediate mcmber having interengaging parts permanently secured thereto, and said intermediate member and ball also having 'nterengaging -F' parts permanently secured specified. i I

6. In a device of the character described,

two members, one of said members being 1 thereto, substantially as andfor the purpose socket to receive said ball, said intermefortned of two pieces with means for clampber having a ball, an intermediate member 1 I e. a 1 located in said main socket and having a diate member being formed in two parts, said main socket member and intermediate member having interengaging parts, and sttitl intermediate member and ball also hav ing interengaging parts, substantially as specified...

7. In a device of the character described, two members, one of said members having a main socket and the other member having a ball, an intermediate member located in said main socket and having a socket to'receive said ball. said intermediate member having a groovcand a tongue, one on the 1 interior and one on the exterior thcreof and extending in d'iti'erent directions with reference to each other. and said main socket? member and ball also having. respectively, a tongue and groove corresponding to the" tongue and groove of said intermediate member, substantially as specified. i

8. In a device of the character described. two members, one of said members having a 5 main socket and the other a ball and reduced l neck, an interim-diate member located in said main socket aml having a socket to receive said ball, said intermtaliatc member having an opening leading to its" socket through which said reduced neck extends, said ball and said interlnet'liate member having interjengagmg parts which permit one of said members to make a con'iplete revolution with I respect to each other but prevent said members from moving with respect. to each other in other directions, said main socket member having an enlarged opening leading to its socket through which said reduced neck also extends, said intermediate member and said main socket member having intcrcngaging f parts permitting the movement of one of 1 said members \vlth respect to the other in one direction and preventing movements of said members with respect to each other in i other directions. said movement being limited by the contact ot said reduced neck with said main sockct member, substantiall as spccihcd.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set I m v hand this 24th day of December. 1908.

FREDERICK A. DILLINUIIAM. \Yitncsscs: I

MMLLUIUE Ht Moiuanv. 

